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Monthly Archives: January 2013

Any employer knows it’s far more cost effective to maintain good personnel than it is to hire new. The costs and resources associated with employee turnover, recruitment, and training can quickly impact your bottom line and operating expenses. So how to do you hold on to those safe and professional drivers? Here are a few tips!

Sending resumes and filling out applications as often as you can but still not landing a job? If you are regularly applying for positions that you meet the qualifications for, it’s time to look at other factors that could be leading employers towards other applicants.

While most job seekers make their best efforts to provide an up-to-date resume, many neglect to consider their etiquette in the application and interviewing process. As with any situation, your first impression is usually the most lasting.

Whether you are new to the job hunt or have been beating the pavement for months, it’s never too soon or too late to analyze your approach. Here are five quick areas for you to analyze and improve if necessary to increase your likelihood of landing your dream job!

Are You Qualified? If you do not meet the minimum qualifications or requirements of the position, you are far less likely to be considered for the position. Employers are often inundated with applications and resumes in response to their job openings. Want to reach the top of the stack? Make sure you clearly state and demonstrate how you’re qualified for the position.

Did You Follow The Application Process? With the large volume of responses that hiring managers typically receive for open positions, they create an application process that best allows them to streamline the process while juggling their other responsibilities. Following the application process as instructed can quickly demonstrate your attention to detail and ability to follow instructions. If the job posting asks you to apply online or requests no phone calls, your chances of impressing the employer will quickly decrease if you try to get around the system.

What Does Your Resume Reflect? Is your resume up to date, clear, and concise? Does it quickly demonstrate your qualifications and professionalism? The average employer spends only 6 seconds reviewing a resume. Make sure your resume is clean, without stains or wrinkles, and quickly demonstrates your skills and abilities at first glance.

How Was Your Applicant Etiquette? One of the fastest ways to land at the bottom of the applicant list is to be rude or inconsiderate in the application process. Seems like common sense right? While it can be frustrating to not hear back quickly or have an interview booked as soon as you feel it should be, keep in mind hiring managers are often overwhelmed with applicant responses and often juggle other responsibilities. Insulting them, their organization, or their staff can quickly land you out of the running for that and other positions within the organization.

Did You Follow Up? Regardless of the outcome of your application and interview, follow up is key. Demonstrating respect and professionalism at all steps of the process can help you stand out significantly. Be sure to thank the interviewer for their time, send a follow up thank you card, and even if you are not chosen for the position remain professional. Your follow up after the fact, may land you the first call back if their first choice for the position does not work out for one reason or another.

Remember the job search process is different for everyone. If those around you are landing jobs faster than you avoid the temptation to get frustrated. Skills, abilities, and job availability have a large impact on the time it takes to find your next position. If you are struggling or could use some assistance in your job search process, consider partnering with an industry specialized recruiting firm to help align you with a career that best suits your qualifications and ambitions.

Are you a stand out professional or skilled worker seeking contingent, temporary, or long term career opportunities? Visit our job seekers section for more information! Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of professionals and skilled workers? Contact us today!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

Whether you saw it coming or it was a complete surprise, a layoff is hard to deal with. Struggling with the stress, financial struggles, and the daunting task of where to look for your next career can quickly become overwhelming. In order to best move on in your future career you have to be able to move on from the past. Not sure where to start? Look here!

If you employ drivers you understand the great impact that accidents and injuries have on your organization. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 2011 saw a 20% increase in truck occupant deaths over the previous year. While this number is startling, some additional statistics give us some insight into the recent spike.

Whether you are beginning your search for a new career or have been interviewing for some time without success, now is a great time to brush up on what not to do in an interview. Let’s face it, landing your dream career can be difficult and ruining a job interview…well that can happen quite quickly. Here are some great ways to decrease your chances of landing the job before you even know it!

While it is wide known that employee engagement has a direct effect on employee attendance, production levels, and turnover rate; many employers are not sure how to improve employee engagement. Employers juggling tight budgets along with limited time and resources to dedicate to the cause of employee engagement, often put off the process. While increasing employee engagement can seem like a large project, there are several simple and inexpensive ways to promote engagement within your team.

Before integrating an employee engagement process, it’s important to understand the benefits. According to a report by Hewitt Quarterly, organizations with high engagement rates are 78% more productive and 40% more profitable than those organizations with low levels of engagement. In addition to increased productivity and profits, employees are 87% less likely to leave for other opportunities. Promoting employee engagement should be a consistent process and include multiple forms of motivation to encourage employees with a wide range of interests and appreciations.

Here are some simple ways to promote employee engagement:

Ask employees what would make them become more engaged in the workplace.

Speak with your staff about their career ambitions and find ways to foster those ambitions within your organization.

Recognize their performance, not their presence.

Recognize and reward employees for outstanding performance with larger opportunities, room for growth, and tokens of appreciation.

As with any program, it is important to regularly monitor the progress and return on investment of your employee engagement program. Metrics on productivity, attendance, turnover, and overall office morale are great indicators. The direct correlation between employee engagement and increased profits and productivity make it a great investment for organizations of any size.

Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of top level talent? Contact us today! If you are a stand out in your profession and seeking contingent or long term career opportunities, visit our job seekers section for more information!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

With winter in full swing, now is a great time to prevent accidents! Slips, trips, and falls account for the majority of general industry accidents according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Almost a quarter of all reported claims each year fall into this category!

What does this mean for you as an employer?

Loss of productivity and business opportunities

Increased insurance premiums

Costs of injuries, loss time, and possible replacement of employees

Decreased employee morale

What does this mean for your employee?

Lost wages

Pain

Temporary or Permanent Disability

Depression

Death

Changes in lifestyle

Possible inability to return to their career path

The good news is these types of accidents are highly preventable. Simple housekeeping, maintenance, and proper training can greatly decrease the changes of a workplace injury due to slips, trips, and falls.

Remind your staff of the importance of reporting and who to notify, in case of a spill, leak, or mess that could be dangerous. Keep these areas clearly marked until the hazard has been removed.

Make sure all entrances are provided with rugs or floor mats to remove water and debris those entering the building.

Keep walking surfaces clear of cords and hoses.

Make sure all working and walking areas have appropriate lighting.

Make sure parking lots are properly maintained, plowed, and salted during the winter months.

While not all slips, trips, and falls are preventable, preventative action can greatly reduce the number of accidents. Encourage your staff to report any unsafe conditions to management immediately and to take pride in their working area for the safety of themselves and others.

Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of top level talent? Contact us today! If you are a stand out in your profession and seeking contingent or long term career opportunities, visit our job seekers section for more information!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

Without question if you are in the recruiting or HR field, the topic of recruiting through social media has crossed your mind or desk in the recent months. With steady reported losses for employers in social networking suits due to improper use for screening or evaluation, you may have chosen to avoid the topic. While recruitment through social media does require knowledge of legal ramifications, there are some simple and conservative ways to be involved with little liability to your organization.

The Wall Street Journal reported that social networks accounted for 20% of time spent online in 2011. With the continued growth in 2012, it goes without saying those numbers are only continuing to climb. Their report also shows that social networks reach approximately 82% of the world’s online population, a great audience for those of us who are seeking high demand candidates who are hard to locate.

A recent study from Salary.com gives us some insight to the candidate perspective:

72% reported using social connections to find a job

38% reported that they were successful in finding a job through social networks

24% the largest group, reported that they seek career opportunities on LinkedIn

60% listed lack of response as their least favorite part of social networks

55% of candidates would prefer a mobile friendly process that takes 10 minutes or less to apply

Making your application process accessible to those on social networks, especially on mobile devices could greatly increase your exposure to technical and professional level candidates. If you are considering implementing social networks into your recruiting process, make sure your process is legally compliant with all local, state, and federal laws. Also make sure that your staff is properly trained and educated on how to remain legally compliant in the process. It is always a great idea to make sure your organization’s social media policy is well defined. For more information on integrating social media in your recruiting process, contact your Labor and Employment Law attorney.

Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of top level talent? Contact us today! If you are a stand out in your profession and seeking contingent or long term career opportunities, visit our job seekers section for more information!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 5,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.